COLEOPTERA. 



65 



a cluster, on the under side of the leaves of willow, sallow, or poplar. 

 Whether the female deposits more than one group, I am at present 

 unable to say. The eggs very soon hatch out, and the larvae do im- 

 mense damage by eating the green portions, leaving only the vascular 

 portion, — in fact, skeletonising the leaves, and giving the affected 

 portion of the plant a very dirty-looking appearance (figs. 63 and 64). 

 They feed on the under side of the leaves, moving 

 in straight rows like soldiers marching in single 

 rank. They are rather larger than in the perfect 

 state, and are of a dirty-looking colour. 



The damage done to the willow, more especi- 

 ally the osier (Salix viminalis), is by no means 

 confined to the larval stage. The perfect beetles 

 do immense damage to the young rods by eating 

 the tender portion of the extreme point, — in fact, 

 eating the growing point; and as length is the 

 main object of osier - growing, it is obvious the 

 damage cannot be exaggerated. Damage of a 

 similar nature to rods of the second year's growth 

 likewise causes a great loss to willow-growers, 

 inasmuch as the shoots throw out a number of 

 small lateral branches, instead of increasing in 

 growth by length. Hence ihey are very much 

 depreciated in value. 



Hitherto I have not been able to work out the 

 full life-history of this insect. Some naturalists 

 assert that it is double-brooded, Init in all prob- 

 ability we have a succession of perfect insects 

 appearing throughout the summer. 



As regards remedies, the usual insecticide- 

 dressings of quassia, Paris green, &c., would no 

 doubt help to keep it in check, but I have found 

 that the best way is simply to go over the 

 rows of twigs and shake the beetles into an 

 paraffin. 



A very interesting account of the damage done to a large sewage 

 farm in Lymm, Cheshire, will be found in Miss Ormerod's Manual ; 

 and my esteemed friend the late Mr J, Mort, who had then charge 

 of the farm in question, assured me that the beetles had all but 



g. 63. — Willow leaf 

 injured hy larva; of 

 willow beetle (^natural 

 size). 



old jar containing 



